Patent 6988941 was granted and assigned to 3M on January, 2006 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A back-up pad for supporting an abrasive article is disclosed. The back-up pad includes an engagement assembly bonded to a first major surface. The engagement assembly includes a first region including a plurality of first engagement means having a first durability. The engagement assembly also includes a second region including a plurality of second attachment means having a second durability. The first engagement means have a substantially higher durability than the second engagement means.